OCD Flashcards
1
Q
behavioural characteristics of OCD
A
- Compulsions: external behaviours that are repeated to reduce anxiety. For examples, checking, counting, washing hands
- avoidance: avoid shaking hands due to germs
2
Q
cognitive characteristics of OCD
A
- Obsessions: internal, unwanted thoughts are recurring + unpleasant + cause anxiety e.g. worries of being contaminated by germs.
- awareness: thoughts + compulsions are irrational excessive and unreasonable
3
Q
emotional characteristics of OCD
A
- anxiety and distress: obsessions are often unpleasant cause overwhelming anxiety
4
Q
Biological approach to explaining OCD (genetic )
A
- due to physical factors, tends to run in families suggest genetic predisposed to OCD being inherited
- genetic expl suggest OCD due to 1+ maladaptive genes EG: SERT
- twin study: monozygotic twins concordance of 87% compared to 47% for dizygotic twins
- specific genes ‘candidate genes’ make individ vulnerable to develop OCD. ‘COMT’ and ‘SERT’
- SERT, transportation of serotonin, if mutated reduces serotonin activity levels, increase OCD
- COMT, regulation of dopamine in the brain, one form of COMT more common, variation causes increase in dopamine, associated w compulsions
5
Q
describe the Neurochemical explanation
A
- OCD due to imbalance of neurotransmitters, low levels of serotonin activity
- mutation in SERT causes sero recycled too fast back to pre-synaptic neurone before activate post
- low levels of sero lead to anxiety, can be seen w obsessions
6
Q
Describe the biological explanation of OCD (neuroanatomy)
A
- OCD due to differences in shape, size of specific brain areas OCD linked to basal ganglia
- basal ganglia: responsible for psychomotor functions, hypersensitivity lead to repetitive movement can help explain compulsions
7
Q
AO3 for Bio approach to OCD
A
reductionist
- red compl hum beh to simple basic units such as genes + imbalance neuroanatomy
- EG: research shown is a higher prevalence of OCD in certain religious groups where regular cleansing before prayer low seroT activity hypersensitivity of the basal ganglia
- negl holli approach, account soc+cult context would influence OCD
- Therefore may lack Val, cant understand in context
Scientific methods
- based on objective + factual techn (gene mappin) studies + brain scans to see specific genes or areas linked to OCD (Basal ganglia)
- Therefore increases overall int val, raise sci status
Practical applications
- principles OCD due to mutation in SERT gene+low seroT led to drug treatment.
- SSRIs increase seroT activity reduce anxiety
- Therefore import part of applied psych
8
Q
Describe the biological approach to treating OCD
A
- drug therapy balances levels of neurotransmitters to relieve OCD symptoms
- Selective seroT reuptake inhib (SeroT agonist)
- increase seroT activity block re-absorp of SeroT to pre-syn, increase seroT in synapse, continues to activate post-syn neuron
- drugs shown to reduce anxiety associated w OCD
- take 3-4 months dosage can vary
- past few years, different anti-depressant drugs,
SNRI’s (seraT norepinephrine reup inhib) used treat OCD. increase lvls of seroT and noraderenaline activ used if SSRI’s have not been effective.(6)
9
Q
AO3 for treatments of OCD (drug therapy)
A
RTS Soomro
- reviewed 17 studies of SSRI
- found SSRI more effective reducing sympt cmpared to placebos
- sympt reduced round 70% of ppl taking SSRI remaining 30% helped alt drug or combo of drugs
- showing effectiveness of drug therapy
Require little motivation
- only need to take a tablet to reduce sympt OCD
- maybe better than CBT to treat OCD requires motivation to attend sesh and challenge thoughts
Cost effective,
- benefits NHS so preferred as money saved treating so money can be spent elsewhere can cause negative side effects
- SSRI can cause nausea
- issue as patient may be distressed from side effects and stop taking medicine then stop taking medication can reduce effectiveness of drug therapy
